The words seemed almost blasphemous. But they weren't, of course. Not this season.

Before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nuggets coach Brian Shaw described his team's impending matchup as a "typical trap game."

That's right, a team that lays claim to 16 NBA championships has become the subject of "don't overlook these guys" pep talks from opposing coaches.

But for the Nuggets, the moribund state of the NBA's purple-and-gold empire didn't make it any less satisfying to throw another stone on the rubble.

Behind another strong game from Ty Lawson and a career scoring effort from Kenneth Faried, the Nuggets completed their first season sweep of the Lakers with a 134-126 victory at the Pepsi Center, notching their first winning streak of any kind in a month.

Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, right, passes ball over Los Angeles Lakers guard Kendall Marshall in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Friday, March 7, 2014. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

"There wasn't much defense being played," Lawson said, echoing Shaw's postgame complaints in that department. "But we won nonetheless."

Lawson had 30 points and 17 assists, continuing his game- altering play since his return from a rib injury. In three games since rejoining the lineup, the veteran guard is averaging 27 points and 11.7 assists. The Nuggets have averaged 125.6 points in those contests.

"The game is very easy for him," teammate Evan Fournier said of Lawson. "He's so fast, so good. I'm just glad he's back on the team, because he brings so many things for us."

Lawson hit 5-of-7 3-pointers, part of a 14-of-24 effort behind the arc for the Nuggets.

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The Lakers were playing one night after suffering their most lopsided defeat in franchise history, a 142-94 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Nuggets took advantage by creating a blistering pace that produced a dizzying array of lob dunks and open 3-pointers. Denver's 77 first-half points were its second-most in a half this season, behind only the 79 it had in the second half of Monday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Faried set a career high with 32 points and also grabbed 13 rebounds, highlighting a dominant effort by Denver's frontcourt starters.

"His game is all about energy," Lawson said of Faried. "Who- ever brings the most energy is going to get a lot of points and rebounds, and you know he's going to bring it."

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